Are You Safe From Microsoft’s Recall? Why Credit Cards and Passwords Still Get Captured

Why Your Personal Data Isn’t Protected as Promised?

Microsoft made big promises about Recall. They said it would keep your private stuff safe. They said it would not save your passwords or credit card numbers. Sadly, this is not happening.

What Is Microsoft Recall?

Recall is like a computer spy. It takes pictures of everything you do on your screen. Then it uses AI to make these pictures easy to find. Microsoft says this helps you remember what you did before. But here’s the problem. When you type your bank password or credit card number, Recall takes a picture of that too.

The Big Test That Shows The Truth

In July 2025, The Register ran a big test. They wanted to see if Recall really kept sensitive stuff safe. The results were bad news.

Here’s what they found:

• Recall took pictures of bank account details and money amounts
• Credit card numbers got captured when websites looked a bit different
• PayPal login screens with usernames were saved
• Account balance information was stored

The test showed that Recall’s safety filter works sometimes. But it fails a lot too.

How The Filter Fails You

Microsoft built a filter to catch sensitive stuff. This filter looks for words like “payment” or “credit card”. But smart criminals know this.

Here’s how easy it is to trick the filter:

• Remove words like “checkout page” from a fake website
• Change how credit card forms look
• Use different labels for password fields

When these small changes happen, Recall captures everything.

Why This Matters For Your Safety

Think about what’s at risk:

• Your bank passwords – Criminals can steal your money
• Credit card details – Fraudsters can make purchases
• Work login information – Your job data could be stolen
• Personal messages – Private conversations become public

Even if you turn off Recall, you’re still not safe. If someone you chat with has it on, your private messages get saved anyway.

How To Protect Yourself Right Now

Turn Off Recall Completely

The safest choice is to disable Recall entirely. You can do this through Windows settings.

Use O&O ShutUp10 Tool

This free tool makes it easy to turn off Recall and other risky features. The tool:

• Works on Windows 10 and 11
• Needs no installation
• Gives you simple on/off switches
• Creates backup points before changes

For Business Owners

IT managers should use group policies to turn off Recall on all company computers. Don’t let employees accidentally turn it on.

The Real Cost of Using Recall

Microsoft says the data stays on your computer and gets encrypted. But that’s not the full story. If someone breaks into your computer, they might still get your private stuff.

Tests show that Recall filters work about half the time. That means your sensitive data has a coin-flip chance of being captured.

What Microsoft Says vs Reality

Microsoft keeps saying they fixed the problems. They added better encryption and user controls. But the July 2025 tests prove these fixes don’t work well enough.

The company admits users should report when sensitive stuff gets captured. This means they know the system fails sometimes.

Should You Trust Recall With Your Data?

The answer is no. Here’s why:

• Filters fail too often to be reliable
• Your private conversations can be stored without your knowledge
• Criminals see Recall as a “treasure trove” of personal information
• Even encrypted data can become a target for hackers

What To Do Next

1. Check if Recall is on – Look in your Windows settings
2. Turn it off immediately – Don’t wait for Microsoft to fix it
3. Download O&O ShutUp10 – This free tool makes disabling easy
4. Tell your family – Make sure they know about the risks too
5. Watch for updates – Microsoft might try to turn it back on

Your personal information is too valuable to risk. Don’t let Microsoft’s broken promises put your money and privacy in danger.